Jones finds immediate success at St. Mary’s

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

It’s not often a freshman can come into a school and have immediate success, but that’s exactly what St. Mary’s High School’s Clare Jones did this past soccer season.

The freshman didn’t look out of place as she helped the Lancers secured another Monsignor Martin title, and a trip to the Catholic State tournaments. She was a key member in the midfield all season long, appearing in 17 games - while scoring six goals and adding five assists.

Her play on the field earned her state recognition when the season came to an end, as Jones was named third team All-State.

“The recognition means a lot because I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today,” stated Jones. “I have done a lot of extra sessions and work on and off the field to be able to perform at this level so it’s really nice to be recognized for it.”

Even with the recognition. Jones is quick to point out that the success she had on the pitch this year was because of the people that she had surrounding her. St. Mary’s is once again deep in every position and Jones was able to lean on players like KK Panella and Brooke Sullivan in the midfield.

They helped her get acclimated quickly while Jones was still getting her feet wet. In the early part of the season, Jones was putting in that work to understand the flow of the game, and what Coach Brittany wanted her players to do in the midfield. With the help of Panella and Sullivan, that made the transition that much easier.

“I think a big part of my success was the people I was surrounded by. Being around a team that really supports each other and constantly pushes each other to work hard definitely helped me in my performance,” stated Jones. “The midfield position is just being able to see the game in front of you. I had really amazing teammates in the middle with me, KK Panella and Brooke Sullivan and they were a big help in adjusting to the team and getting comfortable. I’ve also put a lot of work into understanding the build up and the flow of the midfield which really helped me this season.”

Like most freshman Jones was just trying to find her way early on in the season. When she was out on the pitch, she was just trying to not make any mistakes that would hurt the team. As she was able to have some early success that’s when the confidence grew.

Being able to make plays, and the right plays, was a crucial part to her having the confidence of knowing she could play with anyone out on the pitch. While she was a freshman for St. Mary’s, Jones did have two prior years of varsity experience at Lancaster High School.

“I think that having the success that I had early into the season was a crucial part of my confidence and being able to continue to perform. Getting involved in the game and making things happen on the field really pushed me to want to be better so I could keep contributing to the team and finding the results that we wanted,” stated Jones.”I also think that having two years of varsity experience at Lancaster prior to moving to St Mary’s helped my confidence on the field.”

Even with some of the experience she had, Jones knows there is always room for improvement. There is always something to work on everyday in practice. While some of the work maybe physical, it’s also the mental side of the game Jones is looking to improve on.

Bouncing back from mistakes, and trying to forget them, is the big step in the maturation process for Jones. She knows she needs to get over the hump to have success at the next level.

“I think there are always things that I can work on, and there is always room for improvement on the field,” stated Jones. “A huge part of the game for me is mental and being able to bounce back from mistakes so that’s a huge thing I need to work on to get to the next level. On the field, I need to work on being more comfortable on the ball and in 1v1 situations.”

Jones also continues to work on her soccer IQ whenever she can. Running the midfield can be a tough task at times. The player needs to make quick decisions both offensively and defensively.

Jones has gotten better making those simple plays she knows she needs to make. Playing the game as long as she has, Jones understands when to make the simple pass or try to play her teammates into space with the long ball.

Now, it’s all about chemistry. Jones is still learning her teammates and what they like to do, and how they like to make their runs.

“A lot has gone into understanding and working on my decisions in the midfield. One of those being working with Lew Potter, my first coach helping me to develop my soccer IQ. Something that I have gotten much better at is picking the right time to do things, such as finding a long ball or just connecting a simple pass through the middle,” stated Jones. “I definitely think that playing soccer for as long as I have, and experiencing other positions has helped me to better understand the game. The chemistry I have gained with my teammates after playing with them for my first season helps me to understand when they make a run, or are looking for a pass.”

She also has learned a lot about herself this season. Jones learned that she needs to trust herself more when she steps on the pitch. While she had some good games, there were games that just didn’t meet her expectations.

She is also learning not to put so much pressure on herself. Jones knows she plays better when she is relaxed on the pitch.

“I learned a lot about myself this season. One thing being that I need to trust myself when I step onto the field. I faced a lot of challenges, and had my fair share of games that didn’t meet my expectations. But I learned that I am strong enough to come back from those experiences ready to perform,” stated Jones. “Something I try to remember is to just take it a game at a time. I’m working on not putting too much pressure on myself and just trying to play the game I love at this level. I always give 100 percent on off the field in everything I do and I try to remember, that’s good enough.”

As Jones navigates her high school career, she knows she can also lean on her coach for anything. Coach Brittany has seen it all during her time as a player and coach. She was a standout for Lancaster High School before playing at Boston University.

She has turned her playing career into a very successful coaching one, amassing 100 career wins this past season. To be able to have someone like her to mentor young women on and off the pitch is a bonus to the St. Mary’s program.

“Coach Brittany has been an amazing coach and mentor these past few years. She pushes me harder than anyone else and always inspires me to work hard. Every time I step into flash or high school training, I know she’s going to set high standards for us, because she wants to see us be the best versions of ourselves we can be,” stated Jones. “She’s taught me so much about the game and I’m so grateful that she’s my coach and for everything she’s dedicated to make me a better player and person.”